Woman cooperates, sentenced reduced

The sister of a Beaver Falls man who was convicted of a contract killing had her federal sentence on drug charges reduced by 25 months Thursday.

Khaliah Solomon was initially sentenced to 132 months in federal prison for drug delivery conspiracy and being an accessory after the fact in the killing of Frank Helisek Jr. in New Brighton on Jan. 19, 2004.

Federal prosecutors said that Solomon, 29, drove boyfriend Claron Hanner of Pittsburgh to Helisek's home, and that Hanner shot Helisek to death after being promised money and drugs by Solomon's brother, Jelani.

Jelani Solomon, 28, hired Hanner because he wanted to stop Helisek's son, Shawn, from testifying against him in a drug case the following day.

In October, Khaliah Solomon testified against her brother, and said she didn't know that Hanner was going to shoot Helisek when she drove him to the home.

A federal jury convicted Jelani Solomon in the contract killing, and said he should spend the rest of his life in federal prison.

According to court documents, federal prosecutors didn't oppose a reduction in Khaliah Solomon's sentence because of her cooperation in her brother's trial.

U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry resentenced Khaliah Solomon to 107 months in federal prison, or almost nine years.

Bill Vidonic can be reached online at bvidonic@timesonline.com.

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